Sometimes a journal page is nearly an excuse to document a quote. Or it can seem that way, unless you do something, anything, to showcase the quote in a new setting. For some reason that I do not begin to remember, I decided to make this quote into a turban like headdress and do a partial portrait of a wise woman beneath it. The quote is by Florida Scott-Maxwell, who I am not familiar with nor had I heard this quote before but I loved it immediately and wanted to save it to refer back to. I ended up loving this page even tho it is a bit sparse. There is so much to think about in the quote I did not really want to distract from that thought by putting in a bunch of color or textures or patterns. This is pastel chalk directly onto a naked white journal page, no special paper, no gesso. Just a sharpie, white page and a tad of planning–not much, though. I wanted the page to remain fresh when I view it. As a side note, I also see in this page which was done months ago, an interest in more white space which is on my mind these days when I make art. Not that you’d really notice a change yet…still in the percolating stage.
Posts Tagged ‘journaling’
Fierce with reality
Posted: February 25, 2012 in art journalTags: art journaling, journaling, new art work, pen/ink drawing, terry lee getz
“To listen is to lean in, softly…
Posted: February 23, 2012 in art journalTags: altered book, art journaling, found images, journaling, mapmaking, maps, mixed media
with a willingness to be changed by what we hear”-Mark Nepo. This is a page from my altered map book journal. The page started with a black and white copy of a map I made of my hand, then collage elements and a rough border were laid in on top of the illustration. Watercolor provides a unifying burnt yellow and the quote, shrine and bird pictures are all from magazines or junk mail. This is the first page in this book and I covered it for protection with an old piece of brown wax paper which was pulled back for the photo. I like using evocative quotes culled from reading material and already printed, ready to glue into the page. I also rubber stamp and hand write quotes that seem appropriate for the day that aren’t pre-printed. I believe this is the second page I’ve shared from this altered map journal, I continue to work into it frequently but it takes time to move through it because everything has to dry properly before moving on.
Pretty birds
Posted: February 6, 2012 in New Mixed Media artTags: dina wakley, journaling, mixed media, new art work, painted canvas, painting, stencils, terry lee getz
The design for this pretty picture was not mine but Dina Wakley’s, whose class I took on Saturday. In three hours I made this painting and another on stretched canvas. Dina is a good teacher and we used very good supplies which made the project even more enjoyable. This image is on watercolor paper, gesso’d, birds were traced, then overdrawn with Stabilo ALL water soluble pencil (which I LOVE–new go-to tool), painted, stenciled and journaled on. I don’t take very many classes, this was my first art class in many years. Definitely worth the time and funds. Check to see if Dina might be coming to a venue near you.
Vintage Vignettes make good journaling prompts
Posted: January 26, 2012 in photographyTags: art journaling, ARTpool Gallery, found images, journaling, photography, shop window
From the amazing January shop window at ARTpool Gallery comes this fun vignette of a vintage poodle sitting pretty on an etagere with a pair of gloves casually laid on the top shelf. I love the look on this poodles face and also his body posture. The only thing missing is the chain many of these knick knacks from the 50’s had around their necks. A photo like this can bring memories rushing back of our grandmothers or great aunts living rooms or vanity vignettes from back in the day. If that poodle could only talk? Why not look at old items in the thrift store, antique or retro shop and make a note of how many you remember, what houses you remember them from and who owned them. Were they favorites or despised gifts that had to be placed on show? Did they get passed around or passed down sacredly? My grandmother had a keychain bob that I called the purple horse, even though there was very little purple left on the figure and I can’t be sure if it was a horse or a seahorse at this date. But I remember it and several cool brass keys it held! Have a good time relating to these kitschy items and don’t forget your journal entries.
Butterfly girl
Posted: January 11, 2012 in New Mixed Media artTags: journaling, mixed media, new art work, painted canvas, painting
A canvas produced in my same process as described previously in various posts. This time I experimented with a different eye style and I like the strength they gave the face, plus a strong jaw line helped as well. There are a couple charcoal outlined butterflies that began life as paint splotches and a stamped tag. I found I like making the skin tones like a greyscale photo when the background colors are very rich, I like the contrast.
Little Miss Muffett
Posted: January 7, 2012 in New Mixed Media artTags: found, journaling, mixed media, painted canvas, painting, stencils
Along came a spider and sat down beside her but didn’t frighten her one little bit. This girl was completed like the other in the series, face basics from Crafters Workshop Balzar Designs stencil, acrylics, paper foundation, stamped and tagged. She’s a creature of the twilight for sure.
Golden Boy Sings Two Bird Blues
Posted: January 6, 2012 in New Mixed Media artTags: journaling, mixed media, new art work, painted canvas, painting, stencils
Yesterday while I was working on a couple canvases the surprise of the day was that I wasn’t working on a girly after all, it was a boy! I couldn’t figure out for the longest time while that girl wouldn’t come out right. No moss on me! Pretty much the same process as the others, paper foundation, acrylics, face basics stenciled with Balzar Design template from the Crafters Workshop, which picked my work up to feature on their blog. Exciting! These stencils are very versatile. Finished up with a journaled tag and charcoal mark making and outlining. He’s not perfect, but who is?
Dancing Bear on the Moon
Posted: January 5, 2012 in New Mixed Media artTags: found, journaling, new art work, painted canvas, painting, stencils
I was doing my process as usual and minding my own business when I finished up the portrait and stood back and saw this magnificent bear on top of the blue circle which I swear I didn’t put there! Well, I guess I did…immediately I knew it was the dancing bear on the moon. This is a 12″ canvas, paper layer, acrylic paint, face basics from a stencil by Blazer Designs manufactured by the Crafters Workshop, found tag, journaling and charcoal. Perhaps my favorite of the latest pieces, it’s hard to say. They each have their own personality but you gotta love a dancing bear on the moon.
Sees the world spinning around
Posted: January 4, 2012 in New Mixed Media artTags: found, journaling, mixed media, new art work, painted canvas, painting
A new canvas from the last couple days, seems to be romantic. I’ve done three others with basically the same palette so it looks like a new series is born. Paper foundation with Mod Podge™, acrylic paint, buttons, tag stamped and journaled, then a whirl of charcoal with a stamped birdy. A little charcoal was used to define the hair. Found objects are sewn on, not glued, that way I know they are on there for good. I may make greeting cards from her, I think she’s sweet.
She likes her men off the rack
Posted: December 14, 2011 in New Mixed Media artTags: art journaling, journal canvas, journaling, painting, photography, stencils
This is a 12×12 journal canvas that is one of five in a theme of obsessive love and compulsive thoughts. The title is “Off the Rack” and is composed from two original photographs, a background of tissue paper, heavy stenciling, working back in with acrylics and brush and then journaling on her face with pencil and on the canvas with white Sharpie™ poster paint marker. When these pieces appeared in a show, I was surprised that men were as interested in them as women.
Crickyn 